174 TRAVELS IN 
from mCj was iron. They devoured it with theif 
eyes, extolling It highly, and feeming to value 
it above every thing elfe. Happening to fee 
fome hatchets, plck^axes, large augers, and 
utenfils of every kind, which were behind 
my waggons, they coveted them with a fort 
of impatience, and only wanted an opportu- 
nity to lay their hands upon them* I however 
well knew in what manner favages ought to 
be treated ; and I was fo little afraid of them, 
that, even if I had not been fo well armed, I 
fhould have willingly given up thefe objeds 
to them ; but, as I carried along with me fo 
many implements, they were become fo in- 
difpenfably necelTary, that it was impoffible 
for me to be generous, and facrifice them* 
Neverthelefs, in order that I might deftroy 
their defire, or at leaft weaken its ardour^ 
fmce I could not deprive them of a know- 
ledge of thefe valuable utenfils, I ordered 
them to be carefully concealed. From what 
I had learned of the embarraflrnent under 
which thefe favages were with refpedl to 
their arms, I found that it was indeed dan- 
gerous to expofe them to temptation any 
longer, as it might induce them to form re* 
folutions prejudicial to my repoie, and to get 
pofleifioii 
